August 2016

Issue: Volume 1 Issue 8

Private bond placement is a growing trend, with key advantages such as speed to market, security of sale and stability of pricing that can be very attractive to corporates reluctant to take on the burden of a full public issuance. This month

Cross-border trade across two of the biggest Islamic markets in the world is poised for growth following a ground-breaking new agreement between financial regulators. In August, Malaysia and Indonesia formally agreed to grant greater access and operational flexibility to banks operating in

Each month we bring you an update, insight or explanation into the world of Islamic corporate finance to demonstrate the advantages of alternative solutions. This month we look at Islamic contract financing, giving corporates the opportunity to access working capital by using

Simple goods and services contracts can be one of the most important tools that retail banks provide to their corporate customers: facilitating trade and supporting expansion through financial aid for both buying and selling. A retail Islamic bank in Oman recently added

The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) has joined the long list of global development institutions supporting the expansion of Islamic finance. In August the group signed a new partnership with the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) to establish and implement a framework for

Italy has become the latest European country to recognize the importance of Islamic finance for its capital markets, and is currently seeking ways to enable its corporates to access the Shariah compliant financing market. Although current financial market regulations are not incompatible

The Pakistan Stock Exchange is expected to see an explosion in Shariah compliant listings this year, following a new tax incentive introduced in July by the federal government to encourage companies to go Islamic. Pakistan has been working hard to develop its

There are many misconceptions surrounding the complexity of the Islamic capital markets, and one of the biggest is the belief that a ban on short selling inhibits investment and prevents the equity market from developing to its full potential. However, as we

State-owned energy firm Sarawak Hidro, Malaysia’s largest hydropower producer, returned to the Islamic capital market this week with a RM5.54 billion (US$1.37 billion) Sukuk issuance that met with an electrifying response from eager investors. The issuer plays in the development of the

Private placement can be an attractive way for corporates to tap the Islamic capital markets without going to the trouble and expense of a full public issuance – and the numbers are growing as businesses recognize the benefits. NABIL ISSA takes us